any idea what this clicking is?

[Atom631]

noticed this about 2 weeks ago while in 4wd and driving on the beach. I thought it was suspension and/or rockhard4x4 lca skid plate related, but since then, ive completely redone the suspension with a RK complete lift kit and its still doing it. ive also removed the rockhard skids. only happens in 4wd. happens more frequently when the suspension is cycling..like hitting washout bumps or tire ruts on the beach. on flat ground im able to get the click by turning the wheel, but its not all the time. seems completely random when it happens. I can also feel it when it happens.

other than RK suspension, I have steersmarts tie-rod, drag link, sector shaft brace, stabilizer relocation and fox through shaft stabilizer.

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[chevymitchell]

noticed this about 2 weeks ago while in 4wd and driving on the beach. I thought it was suspension and/or rockhard4x4 lca skid plate related, but since then, ive completely redone the suspension with a RK complete lift kit and its still doing it. ive also removed the rockhard skids. only happens in 4wd. happens more frequently when the suspension is cycling..like hitting washout bumps or tire ruts on the beach. on flat ground im able to get the click by turning the wheel, but its not all the time. seems completely random when it happens. I can also feel it when it happens.

other than RK suspension, I have steersmarts tie-rod, drag link, sector shaft brace, stabilizer relocation and fox through shaft stabilizer.

Ball Joints.

 

[Atom631]

Ball Joints.

I was thinking ball joints too, but I was informed that it would also happen in 2wd then.

 

[Atom631]

heres 2 more videos:

 

[mwilk012]

Does it only happen when turning?
In 4 wheel drive?
On dry pavement?

Please don’t do this

 

[Atom631]

Does it only happen when turning?
In 4 wheel drive?
On dry pavement?

Please don’t do this

it was first discovered in the sand. when the suspension is cycling like over washout bumps, it will do this going straight. but it always happens when turning. it only happens in 4wd.

im well aware not to engage 4wd on dry pavement. I just did it so I can capture the noise. I dont live close enough to off-pavement terrain to run back and forth to troubleshoot.

 

[mwilk012]

it was first discovered in the sand. when the suspension is cycling like over washout bumps, it will do this going straight. but it always happens when turning. it only happens in 4wd.

im well aware not to engage 4wd on dry pavement. I just did it so I can capture the noise. I dont live close enough to off-pavement terrain to run back and forth to troubleshoot.

Are you sure you don’t have 2 different noises? It does sound like ball joints, but it should do it in 2WD too.

How many miles are on the Jeep?

Could be front axle U Joints, if it was only in turns, or front driveshaft but it sounds like it’s more forward.

 

[mwilk012]

If you jump up and down on the front bumper, how does it sound?

 

[Atom631]

Are you sure you don’t have 2 different noises? It does sound like ball joints, but it should do it in 2WD too.

How many miles are on the Jeep?

Could be front axle U Joints, if it was only in turns, or front driveshaft but it sounds like it’s more forward.

I had the loose factory balljoint issue. that noise was different, it was more mellow continuous clicking. and thay happened in 2wd and 4wd. once they were re-torqued to spec, the clicking went away. I am going to double check them tomorrow anyway.

on a FB JL group, someone mentioned they had this exact noise and thought it was coming from the front end too…turned out to be it was his transmission cross-member was loose. so ill be checking that, the transmission mounts and the rzeppa joint.

 

[Atom631]

If you jump up and down on the front bumper, how does it sound?

havent done that. do you mean I should do that while stationary and in 4wd or try to do it while its crawling along?

 

[mwilk012]

For a driveshaft noise, turn angle should be irrelevant.

 

[mwilk012]

havent done that. do you mean I should do that while stationary and in 4wd or try to do it while its crawling along?

Just stationary, I don’t need to be sued, lol

 

[Atom631]

For a driveshaft noise, turn angle should be irrelevant.

guy said he walked next to the jeep while it was moving just as I was in the vids using a mechanics stethoscope and isolated it to the tranny crossmember. once he tightened it down noise went a way. he said before he did that, he spent 2 months going over the front end thinking it was a suspension issue.

 

[mwilk012]

guy said he walked next to the jeep while it was moving just as I was in the vids using a mechanics stethoscope and isolated it to the tranny crossmember. once he tightened it down noise went a way. he said before he did that, he spent 2 months going over the front end thinking it was a suspension issue.

Well that should be pretty obvious and easy to fix anyway.

 

[Atom631]

Well that should be pretty obvious and easy to fix anyway.

????

If its the ujoints its gonna suck and I know dealership wont cover it bc I have aftermarket wheels with bigger offset and larger tires. and im not going through this again in another 13K, so ill just have to bite the bullet and get RCVs…but im not even fully recovered from the money I dropped on the lift a few weeks ago.

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